TLI is over and done!
ni...@sysadmininc.com
of people away.
Our first TLI was back in mid-December. I wasn't sure about that because
a lot of clubs hadn't even elected their officers, but we still had
250-300 officers trained. We also had a TLI Lite and a couple in East
Texas for the Eastern Division.
For those who remember me mentioning this, we extended officer training
from 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes, and had not elective sessions during
officer training. The 2nd 1 hour block was for elective sessions and in
the afternoon there was another 1:30 of officer training.
I think this really restricts the number of people who are willing to
turn out. For example, my wife would have come with me to the first TLI,
but she'd either have to attend officer training or sit for 1 1/2 hours
doing nothing and waiting for the next elective session. In the
afternoon there was hardly anyone was there. Ours in probably one of the
smaller districts in Toastmasters as far as area goes so I don't know if
that'd make any difference or not.
--
Nigel Reed ACS, oCL (It's really an ATM-S in an ideal world) + LDREXC
2 Speeches + 1 Sponsorship needed for DTM. 1 Speech for next CC
District 50 Public Relations Officer http://www.toastmastersd50.org
http://www.toastytips.com - Tips of Toastmasters (submissions welcome)
http://toastmasters.sysadmininc.com - Toastmasters Club Mapping Project
Unofficial Area Motto: "I'm sure there's a speech in that somewhere"
p c
> We had our last TLI this past weekend. It seems the weather kept a lot
> of people away.
>
I am not sure if people go to training, especially during winter/spring.
I just received an email from the LGET that only 5 persons attended
training in the division.
ni...@sysadmininc.com
> I am not sure if people go to training, especially during winter/spring.
> I just received an email from the LGET that only 5 persons attended
> training in the division.
Turnout over all the TLIs (we usually have 4 or 5) is about 75%. I think
the problem is the older members who have "been there, done that" and
don't think they need to know.
A lot of people lose sight of why they joined in the first place, I
think, training isn't just about them (or not) but it's about helping
the club, being a better officer and contributing the club goals.
Colin William
<ni...@sysadmininc.com> wrote
> A lot of people lose sight of why they joined in the first place, I
> think, training isn't just about them (or not) but it's about helping
> the club, being a better officer and contributing the club goals.
this is true, but many people have become disenchanted by actually going to
these trainings and having their time wasted. It's incumbent on the district
to create compelling programming so that people will feel that their time
isn't wasted.
Our district typically has a well-attended training that runs 3-4 hours. The
district covers the entire state plus northern Kentucky, so some people are
expected to drive in excess of 3 hours there and three hours home. If you're
asking people to commit ten hours and fifty bucks or more of their gas money
to TLI, you'd better make it worth their while.
Colin
John Fleming, DTM
in the scriptorium "Colin William"
<colint...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> $<ni...@sysadmininc.com> wrote
> $> A lot of people lose sight of why they joined in the first place, I
> $> think, training isn't just about them (or not) but it's about helping
> $> the club, being a better officer and contributing the club goals.
> $
> $this is true, but many people have become disenchanted by actually going to
> $these trainings and having their time wasted. It's incumbent on the district
> $to create compelling programming so that people will feel that their time
> $isn't wasted.
> $
> $Our district typically has a well-attended training that runs 3-4 hours. The
> $district covers the entire state plus northern Kentucky, so some people are
> $expected to drive in excess of 3 hours there and three hours home. If you're
> $asking people to commit ten hours and fifty bucks or more of their gas money
> $to TLI, you'd better make it worth their while.
Even if they don't come that far, you still have to make it
worth their while.
When the promo material for our TLI came out, I took a look
at the list of sessions. Ours tends to be a big, one-day,
event with club officer training supplemented by additional
sessions on leadership (and sometimes communications)
related topics. It looked like, for a lot of sessions, they
were still looking for instructors and many of the topics
didn't exactly inspire me.
I thought, if you are going to expect me to take a day out
of my weekend and pony up $25, you are going to have to do
better than this. (The charge covers lunch and rental of
the facility.)
--
John Fleming, DTM
Edmonton, Canada
Attitude Boosters Toastmasters (7022-42) - Member
Chamber Toastmasters (5594 - 42) - Member
A scientist can discover a new star but he
cannot make one. He would have to ask an
engineer to do it for him.
- Gordon L. Glegg
John Fleming, DTM
in the scriptorium p c <nos...@nospam.com> wrote:
> $ni...@sysadmininc.com wrote:
> $> We had our last TLI this past weekend. It seems the weather kept a lot
> $> of people away.
> $>
> $[sniped]
> $
> $I am not sure if people go to training, especially during winter/spring.
> $
> $I just received an email from the LGET that only 5 persons attended
> $training in the division.
If you are going to get people to attend, you have to make
it worth their while.
Rick
> A lot of people lose sight of why they joined in the first place, I
> think, training isn't just about them (or not) but it's about helping
> the club, being a better officer and contributing the club goals.
As other people have pointed out, it must be worth their time. Another
reason is people are often active with multiple groups. In addition to
TLI, I had another group I needed to help with.
This was the first TLI I've missed in years. Attending the other event
would have a large benefit on the other group. Attending yet another
TLI would have a small benefit on my club. The actually officer
training sessions tend to cover the same material every time.
The format was changed this year. It was shortened and it was moved to
the middle of the day. There was less content and instead of talking
all morning it consumed the whole day. It overlapped both morning and
after noon activities.
Rick Clements, DTM
VPM Daylighters
Colin William
> A lot of people lose sight of why they joined in the first place, I
> think, training isn't just about them (or not) but it's about helping
> the club, being a better officer and contributing the club goals.
We have, and have had, many good district officers over my years in TI.
We've had a few not-so-good, but the former outweigh the latter by far, we
haven't had any overtly malicious, and the current group is very good.
what surprises me, though, is that even with these very good folks, the
marketing message that trickles down every year re: training is "we want
100% of officers trained!" This is all very well as a benchmark, but when
that's what the clubs are hearing, it sends them the message that the
district is more interested in the quantity of officers trained than what
people might learn.
Your statement above addresses the areas that should be emphasized as
reasons for attending TLI - learning to do your job better, helping your
club, etc. But if the talking point that goes out that it's all about 100%
participation, then I can see where people might not see what's in it for
them, as opposed to what's in it for the district.
Colin
ni...@sysadmininc.com
> Your statement above addresses the areas that should be emphasized as
> reasons for attending TLI - learning to do your job better, helping your
> club, etc. But if the talking point that goes out that it's all about 100%
> participation, then I can see where people might not see what's in it for
> them, as opposed to what's in it for the district.
I have many mixed emotions about the distinguished programs, at the
district, division and area levels and somewhat at the club level.
If you read all the mission statements, everything is geared towards the
members, however when you really look at it, sometimes the members seem
like a means to an end.
Joy
news:620u77F...@mid.individual.net...
> <ni...@sysadmininc.com> wrote
>> A lot of people lose sight of why they joined in the first place, I
>> think, training isn't just about them (or not) but it's about helping
>> the club, being a better officer and contributing the club goals.
>
> We have, and have had, many good district officers over my years in TI.
> We've had a few not-so-good, but the former outweigh the latter by far, we
> haven't had any overtly malicious, and the current group is very good.
>
> what surprises me, though, is that even with these very good folks, the
> marketing message that trickles down every year re: training is "we want
> 100% of officers trained!" This is all very well as a benchmark, but when
> that's what the clubs are hearing, it sends them the message that the
> district is more interested in the quantity of officers trained than what
> people might learn.
That is so true! Not only that, too often, officer training is the same
every time. If you belong to multiple clubs, you may be trained for more
than one office every six months. After several years, this becomes very
wearying.
Joy
Joy
news:tgur85-...@news.sysadmininc.com...
I agree! Instead of, "What are your goals? What do you want to
learn/accomplish?" we hear, "Can you give us a CC/CL, etc. by June?"
Joy
Colin William
<ni...@sysadmininc.com> wrote
> If you read all the mission statements, everything is geared towards the
> members, however when you really look at it, sometimes the members seem
> like a means to an end.
It's up to the district officers doing the selling to sell it effectively as
something that's for the members and for the clubs. If they sell it as an
obligation to the district's numbers, they're lost.
Colin
ni...@sysadmininc.com
> That is so true! Not only that, too often, officer training is the same
> every time. If you belong to multiple clubs, you may be trained for more
> than one office every six months. After several years, this becomes very
> wearying.
There are three ways around this.
1) Make sure you hold the same office at each club
2) Take a 6 month break after doing a stint in office. It would take 7
years to complete all officer positions by doing that.
3) Allow other members who have not been officers to do so and step
back.
While stepping back, maybe think about helping our your District in
other ways. Teach a TLI session? Be a TLI chair, visit some clubs and
offer to give a Successful Club/Leadership Excellence module, spend a
few hours offering tips on the Art of Effective Evaluations, put all
your Toastmasters knowledge to use by helping the clubs in your area by
being an Area Governor and what do you know....you're a DTM :)
Regards
Nigel
Joy
news:qs3s85-...@news.sysadmininc.com...
> Joy <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
>
>> That is so true! Not only that, too often, officer training is the same
>> every time. If you belong to multiple clubs, you may be trained for more
>> than one office every six months. After several years, this becomes very
>> wearying.
>
> There are three ways around this.
>
> 1) Make sure you hold the same office at each club
> 2) Take a 6 month break after doing a stint in office. It would take 7
> years to complete all officer positions by doing that.
> 3) Allow other members who have not been officers to do so and step
> back.
>
> While stepping back, maybe think about helping our your District in
> other ways. Teach a TLI session? Be a TLI chair, visit some clubs and
> offer to give a Successful Club/Leadership Excellence module, spend a
> few hours offering tips on the Art of Effective Evaluations, put all
> your Toastmasters knowledge to use by helping the clubs in your area by
> being an Area Governor and what do you know....you're a DTM :)
>
> Regards
> Nigel
Thanks for the suggestions, Nigel. Two of my clubs have low membership,
which is one reason I hold offices in both of those clubs at the moment.
However, my terms are up at the end of June, and I plan to drop out of both
clubs for financial reasons. I wouldn't have renewed this time if I didn't
hold offices. I agreed to serve for a year, and intend to fulfill my
obligations.
I haven't had an office in my larger club (the one I'm staying in) since I
ended my term as President a couple of years ago.
I am happy to help in ways that won't preclude my competing. I have been in
Toastmasters for 17 years. I have served as a club mentor, and have been an
individual mentor several times. At one point I handled publicity, as well
as contest programs and certificates, for my Area. I have no desire to be
an Area Governor, and not just because I like competing. At my age, I don't
feel prepared for the commitment involved in being Area Governor. I feel
that I contribute enough in other ways, so I don't feel guilty about this.
I am happy to step back and let somebody else have the honor. ;-)
Joy
John Fleming, DTM
the scriptorium ni...@sysadmininc.com wrote:
> $Joy <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
> $
> $> That is so true! Not only that, too often, officer training is the same
> $> every time. If you belong to multiple clubs, you may be trained for more
> $> than one office every six months. After several years, this becomes very
> $> wearying.
> $
> $There are three ways around this.
> $
> $1) Make sure you hold the same office at each club
> $2) Take a 6 month break after doing a stint in office. It would take 7
> $years to complete all officer positions by doing that.
> $3) Allow other members who have not been officers to do so and step
> $back.
> $
> $While stepping back, maybe think about helping our your District in
> $other ways. Teach a TLI session? Be a TLI chair, visit some clubs and
> $offer to give a Successful Club/Leadership Excellence module, spend a
> $few hours offering tips on the Art of Effective Evaluations, put all
> $your Toastmasters knowledge to use by helping the clubs in your area by
> $being an Area Governor and what do you know....you're a DTM :)
Speaking of Successful Club/Leadership Excellence/Better
Speaker modules, last week I ran into someone I met through
Toastmasters years ago. She'd completed her DTM and about a
year or two later had dropped out.
She was saying one of the things that did Toastmasters in
for her was these modules. She belonged to a club that did
one every other week--alternating educationals with business
meetings. With roughly twenty modules, you hear them all at
least once a year. On top of that, many members use them as
a prepackaged speech, making no effort to personalize them
or add to the material either through personal study of the
topic or through personal experience.
Result is, after a while educationals from these series
start resembling month old leftovers greeting you by name
and showing off their new fur coats when you open the
fridge.
John Fleming, DTM
in the scriptorium "Joy" <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
> $I agree! Instead of, "What are your goals? What do you want to
> $learn/accomplish?" we hear, "Can you give us a CC/CL, etc. by June?"
In which case they are packaging it wrong.
The thing is, when members are using the program to become
better communicators and leaders, and doing the things that
make a club successful, the DCP goals tend to take care of
themselves.
For me, right now, the objective I have is to better use
PowerPoint in my presentations. Pushing the envelope so to
speak. As I do this, I will do speeches, and those speeches
will translate over time into CCs and ACs.
And the club I give the credit to can use them for DCP
credit.
BTW, I was playing around with a speech idea the other day
tentatively titled, "Your Cat Has Been Sequenced".
(http://home.ncifcrf.gov/ccr/lgd/comparative_genome/catgenome/index_n.asp)
John Fleming, DTM
in the scriptorium "Joy" <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
> $"Colin William" <colint...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> $news:620u77F...@mid.individual.net...
> $> <ni...@sysadmininc.com> wrote
> $>> A lot of people lose sight of why they joined in the first place, I
> $>> think, training isn't just about them (or not) but it's about helping
> $>> the club, being a better officer and contributing the club goals.
> $>
> $> We have, and have had, many good district officers over my years in TI.
> $> We've had a few not-so-good, but the former outweigh the latter by far, we
> $> haven't had any overtly malicious, and the current group is very good.
> $>
> $> what surprises me, though, is that even with these very good folks, the
> $> marketing message that trickles down every year re: training is "we want
> $> 100% of officers trained!" This is all very well as a benchmark, but when
> $> that's what the clubs are hearing, it sends them the message that the
> $> district is more interested in the quantity of officers trained than what
> $> people might learn.
> $
> $That is so true! Not only that, too often, officer training is the same
> $every time. If you belong to multiple clubs, you may be trained for more
> $than one office every six months. After several years, this becomes very
> $wearying.
On top of that, the sessions are usually geared towards
officers who are just learning the position. And if you
have done the position several times, and done it well, it's
hard to sit through a session that you could be teaching.
John Fleming, DTM
in the scriptorium "Joy" <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
> $Thanks for the suggestions, Nigel. Two of my clubs have low membership,
> $which is one reason I hold offices in both of those clubs at the moment.
> $However, my terms are up at the end of June, and I plan to drop out of both
> $clubs for financial reasons. I wouldn't have renewed this time if I didn't
> $hold offices. I agreed to serve for a year, and intend to fulfill my
> $obligations.
Ouch!!
Given your recent trips to Australia, Joy, you're not
someone I tend to think of as financially challenged.
> $I haven't had an office in my larger club (the one I'm staying in) since I
> $ended my term as President a couple of years ago.
> $
> $I am happy to help in ways that won't preclude my competing. I have been in
> $Toastmasters for 17 years. I have served as a club mentor, and have been an
> $individual mentor several times. At one point I handled publicity, as well
> $as contest programs and certificates, for my Area. I have no desire to be
> $an Area Governor, and not just because I like competing. At my age, I don't
> $feel prepared for the commitment involved in being Area Governor. I feel
> $that I contribute enough in other ways, so I don't feel guilty about this.
> $I am happy to step back and let somebody else have the honor. ;-)
> $
> $Joy
> $
ni...@sysadmininc.com
> Result is, after a while educationals from these series
> start resembling month old leftovers greeting you by name
> and showing off their new fur coats when you open the
> fridge.
I'm a man of options today!
She could have run for club president and then ruled them out of the
meetings, or should could find another club or start a new one if she
desired.
The members of my old home club weren't exactly making it a mutually
supportive environment for me and I am constantly disappointed when
asking for help at contests and, more importantly, for my HPL and
Success/Communication program.
I have found another club that have a number of people who have staff
positions in District 50 as well as being trained judges and chief
judges. In fact I already about half the members because of their
participation outside the club. That's what I was looking for.
ni...@sysadmininc.com
> officers who are just learning the position. And if you
> have done the position several times, and done it well, it's
> hard to sit through a session that you could be teaching.
I'm sure, much to the chagrin of the other people, myself and another
member had a discussion across the room about the CL manual (which I
officially declared dead if I become International President!), the 2
speech outside the club per manual, the one speech per day per club rule
and a couple of other things. That really helped the time fly. :)
Joy
news:ol1nr3po7fotq3f9m...@4ax.com...
Yes, I have done a few of those. It always amazes me how an organization
that is supposed to promote good public speaking can produce such dry,
bland, boring modules. It is harder to make one of those interesting than
it is to come up with an original speech.
Joy
Joy
> On Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:54:45 -0800, while chained to a desk
> in the scriptorium "Joy" <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
>
>> $I agree! Instead of, "What are your goals? What do you want to
>> $learn/accomplish?" we hear, "Can you give us a CC/CL, etc. by June?"
>
> In which case they are packaging it wrong.
>
> The thing is, when members are using the program to become
> better communicators and leaders, and doing the things that
> make a club successful, the DCP goals tend to take care of
> themselves.
>
> For me, right now, the objective I have is to better use
> PowerPoint in my presentations. Pushing the envelope so to
> speak. As I do this, I will do speeches, and those speeches
> will translate over time into CCs and ACs.
>
> And the club I give the credit to can use them for DCP
> credit.
>
> BTW, I was playing around with a speech idea the other day
> tentatively titled, "Your Cat Has Been Sequenced".
> (http://home.ncifcrf.gov/ccr/lgd/comparative_genome/catgenome/index_n.asp)
>
> --
>
> John Fleming, DTM
> Edmonton, Canada
It sounds as though it has great potential for a subject, with a number of
approaches possible.
Joy
Joy
Yes, especially if it's being taught badly. The good teachers give
experienced officers a chance to speak. Some of the others don't.
The worst training session I ever attended was for VP Membership. The
trainer never mentioned making visitors feel welcome or encouraging members
to invite guests. Instead, he spent the entire time telling us how to make
cold calls. We were supposed to spend a couple of hours a week with the
phone book, just calling people at random and trying to sell them on coming
to our club.
Joy
Joy
> On Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:26:55 -0800, while chained to a desk
> in the scriptorium "Joy" <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
>
>> $Thanks for the suggestions, Nigel. Two of my clubs have low membership,
>> $which is one reason I hold offices in both of those clubs at the moment.
>> $However, my terms are up at the end of June, and I plan to drop out of
>> both
>> $clubs for financial reasons. I wouldn't have renewed this time if I
>> didn't
>> $hold offices. I agreed to serve for a year, and intend to fulfill my
>> $obligations.
>
> Ouch!!
>
> Given your recent trips to Australia, Joy, you're not
> someone I tend to think of as financially challenged.
I can understand that. I am on a fixed income, supplemented by a very
part-time home-based word processing business. My first trip to Australia
was financed by a gift from my mother. The second and third were partially
paid for by withdrawals from my IRA, and by other gifts. My last trip used
up my inheritance from my mother. My IRA is now at a low enough point that
I feel I should save it in case I should need long term care. I am trying
to live on my income, which means pulling in my horns somewhat. I am not
poor, by any means. I own my house, and my income allows me to live
comfortably. However, I need to set priorities and spend more wisely than I
have in the past.
Joy
Rod Taylor
"Joy" <toa...@real-me.net> wrote in message
news:13rnmsc...@corp.supernews.com...
I can relate to that, Joy. TM SADs are US$ denominated and are heavy in this
part of the world. I'm therefore only a member of one club, but a very
welcome and regular visitor at several others. The disadvantages of being a
visitor rather than a member? I can't serve on their committees :-) I can
only contribute to their business meetings with the permission of the chair
and I have no voting rights. No problems there when compared to the savings!
--
Rod Taylor (rodt iafrica - don't forget the @ and the dotcom)
Transformers Toastmasters Club
District 74, Southern Africa
Mark Perew
> The thing is, when members are using the program to become
> better communicators and leaders, and doing the things that
> make a club successful, the DCP goals tend to take care of
> themselves.
Here! Here! That is exactly on target.
I like to remind people that what we do in the club is an emulation of the
real world. In the real world companies want profits. The way to get
profits is to product good products or services, keep costs low, and provide
excellent customer service. If you get those 3 items right, more often than
not you'll make a profit.
In other words, focusing on the means will get you the ends.
--
Mark Perew <pe...@squeep.com>
To the world you may be just one person,
but to one person you may be the world. (Source Unknown)
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
Joy
news:12034981...@svr04.isisp.net...
I could probably afford the dues, which are relatively cheap here in the US,
but both the clubs I'm dropping have monthly meetings at restaurants, where
we're expected to buy a meal. That increases the cost considerably.
Joy
Joy
news:47bc3993$0$26094$8826...@free.teranews.com...
However, whenever an Area Governor makes an official visit to a club, there
is a form that must be filled out, indicating who is going to do what in the
near future. All of these things are geared toward the DCP, rather than
toward the needs of the members.
Joy
ni...@sysadmininc.com
> I could probably afford the dues, which are relatively cheap here in the US,
> but both the clubs I'm dropping have monthly meetings at restaurants, where
> we're expected to buy a meal. That increases the cost considerably.
If 26 other people chip in $2 every 6 months, we could buy Rod and Joy a
membership each :D
ni...@sysadmininc.com
> However, whenever an Area Governor makes an official visit to a club, there
> is a form that must be filled out, indicating who is going to do what in the
> near future. All of these things are geared toward the DCP, rather than
> toward the needs of the members.
It's funny to think that if a club doesn't get 4 CCs in a year, they're
not meetings it responsibilities to its members. Sometimes clubs havr
30-40+ members, you'd not be able to complete a CC if you waited your
turn to speak at a regular interval.
There's also the big assumption that a lot of people will complete their
CC by June 30th. This assumes it takes about a year to complete and
everyone started on 1st July. There are only 5 events that are based on
the Toastmasters year. New officers, getting officer lists to WHQ, dues
renewals periods and officer training. DCP program.
If WHQ is concerned about the quality of meetings, they should be more
concerned about the total number of manual speeches given rather than
how many people actually complete manuals.
I've said this before, after my ACB I got 4 manuals and have been
working out of all four so my ACS and ACG had a potential to come very
close to either. That's 20 speeches, but I could have given 16 without
finishing any of the 4 manuals. WHQ should also reward a low turnover
rather than club growth. A club of 30 people with low turnover is not
necessarily going to benefit from 8 new members each year. Sure, it's
nice to have fresh blood and people will come and go. I guess they make
a fair amount on the $20 for new member packets. Member retention and
longevity need more weight than new members.
Maybe it's time WHQ took a look at the DCP structure and put some
thought into that rather than messing around with district leadership
like they are at the moment.
Joy
news:o9iu85-...@news.sysadmininc.com...
I agree wholeheartedly!
Joy
Rick
> If 26 other people chip in $2 every 6 months, we could buy Rod and Joy a
> membership each :D
How would the clubs or Rod benefit from him joining? Before I changed
companies, I visited two clubs regularly. When the clubs needed help, I
could fill in on the schedule. When they had plenty of people, you just
visit and maybe get called on for table topics. If they have a special
project, he is one more person they can ask for help. Paying for a
membership basically gets an extra copy of Toastmaster magazine and the
chance to sever as officer in two clubs.
Rick
[Some well written comments on Toastmasters modules deleted.]
> Yes, I have done a few of those. It always amazes me how an organization
> that is supposed to promote good public speaking can produce such dry,
> bland, boring modules. It is harder to make one of those interesting than
> it is to come up with an original speech.
On top of being boring, few offer much original material. For example,
if you have been attending those training sessions that you are finding
repetitious, you would have heard the material in the finding new
members module.
The modules did help come up with a good speech. I read though the
module on resolving conflict. It talked about the reasons for conflict.
One reason seamed to be lacking from their reasons for conflict.
That is people are different. I took examples about people being
different from Meyers-Briggs and for courses about dealing with
different cultures.
One example was at a training session we were told we should phrase our
feedback as "I felt" and never "I thought". One of the Meyers-Briggs
scales rank people from thinking to feeling. It's a basic difference on
how people look at things. It also affects if you will naturally use
thinking or feeling.
My point to avoid conflict many times we need to understand people react
differently to the same situation. They are doing it because that's
what's natural to them and not to annoy you.
It inspired a good speech, but I didn't use any material from the module.
Rick Clements, DTM
FPM Daylighters
Mark Perew
> However, whenever an Area Governor makes an official visit to a club, there
> is a form that must be filled out, indicating who is going to do what in the
> near future. All of these things are geared toward the DCP, rather than
> toward the needs of the members.
I haven't seen the form in a couple of years, but as I recall it wasn't
tailored directly to the DCP. It seemed to me to be more a way of
confirming that people were giving manual speeches, serving in officer
roles, recruiting new members, etc. Yes, those are DCP goals, but they are
first the things that successful, thriving clubs do.
--
Mark Perew <pe...@squeep.com>
To the world you may be just one person,
but to one person you may be the world. (Source Unknown)
--
Mark Perew
> It's funny to think that if a club doesn't get 4 CCs in a year, they're
> not meetings it responsibilities to its members. Sometimes clubs havr
> 30-40+ members, you'd not be able to complete a CC if you waited your
> turn to speak at a regular interval.
A club that has had 30-40 members for a while will have members "in the
pipeline" who are at various stages of working through the C&L Manual. I
can't imagine why 2 or 4 of them couldn't manage to complete the small
number of projects needed to earn their CC.
A club that has suddenly gone from 10 to 40 members is a different problem,
however.
--
Mark Perew <pe...@squeep.com>
To the world you may be just one person,
but to one person you may be the world. (Source Unknown)
--
Joy
Unless it has been changed in the last year or so, the form asks for names
of those who plan to get a CC by the end of June and those who plan to get
an advanced award or a CL or AL by the end of June. That is definitely
aimed at the DCP.
I am currently working on my 17th CTM/CC, mainly so I can give one of my
clubs credit for it. After that many, I couldn't care less if I ever get
another certificate. I would still give manual speeches, but I wouldn't
bother to apply for the awards if it weren't for the plan. Therefore, the
plan is not serving my needs. Those are served by allowing me to give
speeches and perform other roles at meetings, to compete in the contests,
and to mentor new members or advise long-term members when asked.
--
Joy Gaylord, ATM-S, CL
Simi Valley Toastmasters (Dist. 33)
The Supper Club (Dist. 33)
Storytelling & Performing Arts Toastmasters (Dist. 52)
Southern California
Rod Taylor
news:hbiu85-...@news.sysadmininc.com...
> Joy <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
>
>> I could probably afford the dues, which are relatively cheap here in the
>> US,
>> but both the clubs I'm dropping have monthly meetings at restaurants,
>> where
>> we're expected to buy a meal. That increases the cost considerably.
>
> If 26 other people chip in $2 every 6 months, we could buy Rod and Joy a
> membership each :D
>
The situation isn't that extreme, but I really wish WHQ would make TMI truly
international in many ways.
Rod Taylor
<ni...@sysadmininc.com> wrote in message
news:o9iu85-...@news.sysadmininc.com...
> Joy <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
>> However, whenever an Area Governor makes an official visit to a club,
>> there
>> is a form that must be filled out, indicating who is going to do what in
>> the
>> near future. All of these things are geared toward the DCP, rather than
>> toward the needs of the members.
>
> It's funny to think that if a club doesn't get 4 CCs in a year, they're
> not meetings it responsibilities to its members. Sometimes clubs havr
> 30-40+ members, you'd not be able to complete a CC if you waited your
> turn to speak at a regular interval.
>
> There's also the big assumption that a lot of people will complete their
> CC by June 30th. This assumes it takes about a year to complete and
> everyone started on 1st July. There are only 5 events that are based on
> the Toastmasters year. New officers, getting officer lists to WHQ, dues
> renewals periods and officer training. DCP program.
>
> If WHQ is concerned about the quality of meetings, they should be more
> concerned about the total number of manual speeches given rather than
> how many people actually complete manuals.
It's also difficult for clubs when District officers, with their own agendas
dominating members' needs, have cajoled and bullied to squeeze every
possible CC out before 30 june. This puts many clubs back to an almost zero
base.
Further, in this District, as far as I'm aware, we have only one club that
meets weekly. The vast majority meet twice a monthh, with a few monthly
clubs scattered here and there. Meeting twice a month gives slightly less
than half the speaking opportunities of clubs that meet weekly.
It would seem far mor equitable to assess educational performance on CCs (or
manual speeches) related to the number of meetings.
ni...@sysadmininc.com
> I haven't seen the form in a couple of years, but as I recall it wasn't
> tailored directly to the DCP. It seemed to me to be more a way of
> confirming that people were giving manual speeches, serving in officer
> roles, recruiting new members, etc. Yes, those are DCP goals, but they are
> first the things that successful, thriving clubs do.
There's one here.
http://www.d63toastmasters.com/forms/AreaClubVisit.pdf
Joy
I agree. They do seem to be working on it, by reorganizing and having more
Regions outside of North America. There is still a long way to go, and cost
is definitely part of the problem.
Joy
Joy
news:eul095-...@news.sysadmininc.com...
Yup. The top half of the form is devoted exclusively to the DCP.
Joy
John Fleming, DTM
scriptorium Mark Perew <pe...@bokbok.squeep.com> wrote:
> $ni...@sysadmininc.com wrote:
> $> It's funny to think that if a club doesn't get 4 CCs in a year, they're
> $> not meetings it responsibilities to its members. Sometimes clubs havr
> $> 30-40+ members, you'd not be able to complete a CC if you waited your
> $> turn to speak at a regular interval.
> $
> $A club that has had 30-40 members for a while will have members "in the
> $pipeline" who are at various stages of working through the C&L Manual. I
> $can't imagine why 2 or 4 of them couldn't manage to complete the small
> $number of projects needed to earn their CC.
You're right, they should.
If the club has three speeches per meeting and meets for 48
weeks of the year, that's 144 speeches or an average of 4 to
5 speeches per member.
A member could complete a CC in about two years, with people
starting the program this year in the pipeline to complete a
CC two years from now.
> $A club that has suddenly gone from 10 to 40 members is a different problem,
> $however.
Keeping in mind that no member can do more than one speech
for manual credit per meeting, and that every speech needs
to be evaluated, such a club could open up some additional
speaking slots by holding a couple of all speech meetings.
Properly planned, a couple of these per year could easily
add an extra six to ten speaking opportunities per year for
club members.
--
John Fleming, DTM
Edmonton, Canada
John Fleming, DTM
in the scriptorium "Rod Taylor" <seemysi...@nospam.ever>
wrote:
> $It's also difficult for clubs when District officers, with their own agendas
> $dominating members' needs, have cajoled and bullied to squeeze every
> $possible CC out before 30 june. This puts many clubs back to an almost zero
> $base.
> $
> $Further, in this District, as far as I'm aware, we have only one club that
> $meets weekly. The vast majority meet twice a monthh, with a few monthly
> $clubs scattered here and there. Meeting twice a month gives slightly less
> $than half the speaking opportunities of clubs that meet weekly.
> $
> $It would seem far mor equitable to assess educational performance on CCs (or
> $manual speeches) related to the number of meetings.
As I've said before, the issue I have with the current DCP
is that it is a "one size fits all" program. Not all clubs
are the same.
For all its flaws, the old DCP the current DCP replaced did
allow a club to tailor the objectives to meet its own needs
and circumstances. For example, a weak club could focus its
efforts on membership building, get credit for that, and not
worry as much about the number of CTMs/CCs. A larger
membership club with a lot of members at various stages of
the CTM/CC could focus its efforts on educational
accomplishments and membership retention, and worry less
about membership building.
John Fleming, DTM
in the scriptorium "Joy" <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
> $I could probably afford the dues, which are relatively cheap here in the US,
> $but both the clubs I'm dropping have monthly meetings at restaurants, where
> $we're expected to buy a meal. That increases the cost considerably.
Yes, that can get expensive.
At one point, I belonged to a breakfast club and there was a
charge for the meal. That added up. For a typical year,
the total cost if I attended all meetings worked out to
about $500 per year.
The one benefit we did have was this. Because the cost of
renting the meeting place was included in the meal cost, we
set up the club finances so part of the cost of the meal was
"picked up by the club" through the semi annuals. That is,
the venue charged something like $12 per meal, the member
paid $8 for the meal and the club paid $4. Because the semi
annuals were tax deductible and directly paid meal costs
weren't, members indirectly got a small tax write off for
breakfast.
John Fleming, DTM
in the scriptorium "Joy" <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
> $"John Fleming, DTM" <nos...@sprynet.com> wrote in message
> $news:ol1nr3po7fotq3f9m...@4ax.com...
> $> Speaking of Successful Club/Leadership Excellence/Better
> $> Speaker modules, last week I ran into someone I met through
> $> Toastmasters years ago. She'd completed her DTM and about a
> $> year or two later had dropped out.
> $>
> $> She was saying one of the things that did Toastmasters in
> $> for her was these modules. She belonged to a club that did
> $> one every other week--alternating educationals with business
> $> meetings. With roughly twenty modules, you hear them all at
> $> least once a year. On top of that, many members use them as
> $> a prepackaged speech, making no effort to personalize them
> $> or add to the material either through personal study of the
> $> topic or through personal experience.
> $>
> $> Result is, after a while educationals from these series
> $> start resembling month old leftovers greeting you by name
> $> and showing off their new fur coats when you open the
> $> fridge.
> $
> $Yes, I have done a few of those. It always amazes me how an organization
> $that is supposed to promote good public speaking can produce such dry,
> $bland, boring modules. It is harder to make one of those interesting than
> $it is to come up with an original speech.
Ain't that the truth.
The only way to get around that is to use the module as a
general guide to the material to be covered, and write your
own speech.
--
John Fleming, DTM
Edmonton, Canada
John Fleming, DTM
the scriptorium ni...@sysadmininc.com wrote:
> $John Fleming, DTM <nos...@sprynet.com> wrote:
> $> On top of that, the sessions are usually geared towards
> $> officers who are just learning the position. And if you
> $> have done the position several times, and done it well, it's
> $> hard to sit through a session that you could be teaching.
> $
> $I'm sure, much to the chagrin of the other people, myself and another
> $member had a discussion across the room about the CL manual (which I
> $officially declared dead if I become International President!), the 2
> $speech outside the club per manual, the one speech per day per club rule
> $and a couple of other things. That really helped the time fly. :)
I have absolutely no intention of *ever* doing the new CL
manual.
It doesn't meet my needs, and doesn't spark any interest.
John Fleming, DTM
> $news:un2nr35j2og5hsved...@4ax.com...
> $> On top of that, the sessions are usually geared towards
> $> officers who are just learning the position. And if you
> $> have done the position several times, and done it well, it's
> $> hard to sit through a session that you could be teaching.
> $
> $Yes, especially if it's being taught badly. The good teachers give
> $experienced officers a chance to speak. Some of the others don't.
> $
> $The worst training session I ever attended was for VP Membership. The
> $trainer never mentioned making visitors feel welcome or encouraging members
> $to invite guests. Instead, he spent the entire time telling us how to make
> $cold calls. We were supposed to spend a couple of hours a week with the
> $phone book, just calling people at random and trying to sell them on coming
> $to our club.
Well, phone enough people and you should get a guest or two.
Cold calling is a numbers game.
That said, there are probably better ways to encourage
people to join Toastmasters.
--
John Fleming, DTM
Edmonton, Canada
John Fleming, DTM
in the scriptorium "Joy" <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
> $"John Fleming, DTM" <nos...@sprynet.com> wrote in message
> $> On Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:54:45 -0800, while chained to a desk> $>> $I agree! Instead of, "What are your goals? What do you want to
> $>> $learn/accomplish?" we hear, "Can you give us a CC/CL, etc. by June?"
> $>
> $> In which case they are packaging it wrong.
> $>
> $> The thing is, when members are using the program to become
> $> better communicators and leaders, and doing the things that
> $> make a club successful, the DCP goals tend to take care of
> $> themselves.
> $>
> $> For me, right now, the objective I have is to better use
> $> PowerPoint in my presentations. Pushing the envelope so to
> $> speak. As I do this, I will do speeches, and those speeches
> $> will translate over time into CCs and ACs.
> $>
> $> And the club I give the credit to can use them for DCP
> $> credit.
> $>
> $> BTW, I was playing around with a speech idea the other day
> $> tentatively titled, "Your Cat Has Been Sequenced".
> $> (http://home.ncifcrf.gov/ccr/lgd/comparative_genome/catgenome/index_n.asp)
> $>
> $> --
> $>
> $> John Fleming, DTM
> $> Edmonton, Canada
> $
> $It sounds as though it has great potential for a subject, with a number of
> $approaches possible.
Definitely!!
Right now, I'm at the point of whittling away my material so
the audience gets a tightly focused and relevant message.
Talking about how the genes people and cats have in common
makes a study of diseases in cats relevant to human health
in general terms will be of interest. Especially
considering the number of diseases cats and humans have in
common. (One in 400 cats gets diabetes, for example.)
Talking about how people and cats share the sonic hedgehog
(shh) gene (as do hedgehogs for that matter) will only be
relevant if we have a member of the club who has polydactyly
(more than five fingers and/or toes on one or more hands
and/or feet). While polydactyly is supposed to be a fairly
common trait, right off the top I can't think of anybody I
know who has it. And even then, I'd be better off talking
about how the trait is found in both cats and humans and not
bother taking it down to the level of the specific gene
invovled.
Joy
news:eqksr3p8gte12c38f...@4ax.com...
That is very true.
Joy
Joy
> On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:09:14 -0800, while chained to a desk
> in the scriptorium "Joy" <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
>
>> $I could probably afford the dues, which are relatively cheap here in the
>> US,
>> $but both the clubs I'm dropping have monthly meetings at restaurants,
>> where
>> $we're expected to buy a meal. That increases the cost considerably.
>
> Yes, that can get expensive.
>
> At one point, I belonged to a breakfast club and there was a
> charge for the meal. That added up. For a typical year,
> the total cost if I attended all meetings worked out to
> about $500 per year.
>
> The one benefit we did have was this. Because the cost of
> renting the meeting place was included in the meal cost, we
> set up the club finances so part of the cost of the meal was
> "picked up by the club" through the semi annuals. That is,
> the venue charged something like $12 per meal, the member
> paid $8 for the meal and the club paid $4. Because the semi
> annuals were tax deductible and directly paid meal costs
> weren't, members indirectly got a small tax write off for
> breakfast.
>
> --
>
> John Fleming, DTM
> Edmonton, Canada
I can see where both of those things could be helpful in a number of cases.
Neither would work for me, because both of these clubs are low in
membership, and don't have enough in the treasury to help with the meals.
As for the tax deduction, I'm retired, and own my home free and clear. I
can't itemize.
However, I would encourage clubs that can afford supplementing meals to do
this for their members.
Joy
Joy
Also, there are few better ways to discourage people from taking the office
of VP Membership than to tell them they are expected to make cold calls.
I'd been to enough TLIs by the time this happened that it didn't phase me.
If I was new, and this was my first time in the office, I'd probably have
turned in my resignation at the next meeting, or even dropped out of the
club altogether.
Joy
Joy
That is interesting about polydacyly. I have heard of people with extra
digits, but have never known any personally, or known anybody who did - or
at least who mentioned it. OTOH, my daughter has a polydactyl cat, and
there are several people on my cat newsgroup who have them. Before I
subscribed to the cat newsgroup, I would have been surprised to know about
diabetes in cats. However, several of the people in the group have, or have
had, diabetic cats. I was thinking about that today when I was giving my
cat her twice-daily thyroid medication (another problem shared between
humans and felines). She hates the medicine. I can't imagine what it must
be like to do the mandatory sticks and inject insulin in a cat.
Joy
ni...@sysadmininc.com
> I have absolutely no intention of *ever* doing the new CL
> manual.
> It doesn't meet my needs, and doesn't spark any interest.
Same here, but it was easy enough to do and get out the way and at least
I can say I've done it.
BTW, I did the last speech for my first CC today. I will still consider
it a CTM. ;)
I'm also 1 speech into my 3rd CTM/CC, Joy - I'm catching up ;)
Joy
news:jug395-...@news.sysadmininc.com...
Good for you! I still consider it a CTM too.
Our VP-Ed is really pushing the CL manual, so nearly everybody in our club
is working on it. I'll use it when I remember, but I'm not going to go out
of my way to make sure it gets done.
Joy
John Fleming, DTM
in the scriptorium "Joy" <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
> $"John Fleming, DTM" <nos...@sprynet.com> wrote in message
> $> On Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:45:16 -0800, while chained to a desk> $>> $"John Fleming, DTM" <nos...@sprynet.com> wrote in message
> $>> $news:i32nr3lu463a08ml0...@4ax.com...
> $>> $> On Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:54:45 -0800, while chained to a desk
> $>> $> in the scriptorium "Joy" <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
> $>> $>
> $>> $>> $I agree! Instead of, "What are your goals? What do you want to
> $>> June?"
> $>> $>
> $>> $> In which case they are packaging it wrong.
> $>> $>
> $>> $> The thing is, when members are using the program to become
> $>> $> make a club successful, the DCP goals tend to take care of
> $>> $> themselves.
> $>> $>
> $>> $> For me, right now, the objective I have is to better use
> $>> $> speak. As I do this, I will do speeches, and those speeches
> $>> $> will translate over time into CCs and ACs.
> $>> $>
> $>> $> And the club I give the credit to can use them for DCP
> $>> $>
> $>> $> BTW, I was playing around with a speech idea the other day
> $>> $>
> $>> $>
> $>> $> --
> $>> $>
> $>> $> John Fleming, DTM
> $>> $
> $>> $It sounds as though it has great potential for a subject, with a number
> $>> $approaches possible.
> $>
> $> Definitely!!
> $>
> $> Right now, I'm at the point of whittling away my material so
> $> the audience gets a tightly focused and relevant message.
> $>
> $> Talking about how the genes people and cats have in common
> $> makes a study of diseases in cats relevant to human health
> $> in general terms will be of interest. Especially
> $> considering the number of diseases cats and humans have in
> $> common. (One in 400 cats gets diabetes, for example.)
> $>
> $> Talking about how people and cats share the sonic hedgehog
> $> (shh) gene (as do hedgehogs for that matter) will only be
> $> relevant if we have a member of the club who has polydactyly
> $> (more than five fingers and/or toes on one or more hands
> $> and/or feet). While polydactyly is supposed to be a fairly
> $> common trait, right off the top I can't think of anybody I
> $> know who has it. And even then, I'd be better off talking
> $> about how the trait is found in both cats and humans and not
> $> bother taking it down to the level of the specific gene
> $> invovled.
> $>
> $> --
> $>
> $> John Fleming, DTM
> $> Edmonton, Canada
> $
> $digits, but have never known any personally, or known anybody who did - or
> $at least who mentioned it.
Apparently it affects about 15 out of every 100,000 people.
> $OTOH, my daughter has a polydactyl cat, and
> $there are several people on my cat newsgroup who have them. Before I
> $subscribed to the cat newsgroup, I would have been surprised to know about
> $diabetes in cats.
I knew cats got it. My brother had a cat who developed
diabetes and they had to give him insulin shots.
> $However, several of the people in the group have, or have
> $had, diabetic cats. I was thinking about that today when I was giving my
> $cat her twice-daily thyroid medication (another problem shared between
> $humans and felines). She hates the medicine. I can't imagine what it must
> $be like to do the mandatory sticks and inject insulin in a cat.
Ah yes, the twice daily thyroid medication is a routine I
know well. My little cat has feline hyperthyroidism.
There is a product called "Pill Pockets". I use them to
give my cat her medication. The pill goes into the "Pill
Pocket", and she thinks she is getting a treat--either
chicken flavoured or salmon flavoured. She actually looks
forward to getting her medication.
As to giving a cat insulin shots, after the first few times
I don't think my brother had trouble giving his cat her
shots.
--
John Fleming, DTM
Edmonton, Canada
John Fleming, DTM
the scriptorium ni...@sysadmininc.com wrote:
> $John Fleming, DTM <nos...@sprynet.com> wrote:
> $> I have absolutely no intention of *ever* doing the new CL
> $> manual.
> $
> $> It doesn't meet my needs, and doesn't spark any interest.
> $
> $Same here, but it was easy enough to do and get out the way and at least
> $I can say I've done it.
> $
> $BTW, I did the last speech for my first CC today. I will still consider
> $it a CTM. ;)
> $
> $I'm also 1 speech into my 3rd CTM/CC, Joy - I'm catching up ;)
I've got a ways to go before I catch up with Joy.
I have the manual for number five (or is it six). Still
have to do the first speech though.
John Fleming, DTM
in the scriptorium "Joy" <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
> $<ni...@sysadmininc.com> wrote in message
> $news:jug395-...@news.sysadmininc.com...
> $> John Fleming, DTM <nos...@sprynet.com> wrote:
> $>> I have absolutely no intention of *ever* doing the new CL
> $>> manual.
> $>
> $>> It doesn't meet my needs, and doesn't spark any interest.
> $>
> $> Same here, but it was easy enough to do and get out the way and at least
> $> I can say I've done it.
> $>
> $> BTW, I did the last speech for my first CC today. I will still consider
> $> it a CTM. ;)
> $>
> $> I'm also 1 speech into my 3rd CTM/CC, Joy - I'm catching up ;)
> $> --
> $> Nigel Reed ACS, oCL (It's really an ATM-S in an ideal world) + LDREXC
> $> 2 Speeches + 1 Sponsorship needed for DTM. 1 Speech for next CC
> $> District 50 Public Relations Officer http://www.toastmastersd50.org
> $> http://www.toastytips.com - Tips of Toastmasters (submissions welcome)
> $> http://toastmasters.sysadmininc.com - Toastmasters Club Mapping Project
> $> Unofficial Area Motto: "I'm sure there's a speech in that somewhere"
> $
> $Good for you! I still consider it a CTM too.
> $
> $Our VP-Ed is really pushing the CL manual, so nearly everybody in our club
> $is working on it. I'll use it when I remember, but I'm not going to go out
> $of my way to make sure it gets done.
The only reason I have a copy of the CL manual at all is
because the club bought every member a copy from surplus
funds in the club budget.
ni...@sysadmininc.com
> The only reason I have a copy of the CL manual at all is
> because the club bought every member a copy from surplus
> funds in the club budget.
I'd have voted for shots instead :)
Much better use of funds...
...and way more enjoyable than the CL manual :)
--
Nigel Reed ACS, oCL (It's really an ATM-S in an ideal world) + LDREXC
2 Speeches + 1 Sponsorship needed for DTM. 1 Speech for next CC
District 50 Public Relations Officer http://www.toastmastersd50.org
http://www.toastytips.com - Tips of Toastmasters (submissions welcome)
http://toastmasters.sysadmininc.com - Toastmasters Club Mapping Project
Joy
For the time being, at least, my cat's medicine is in liquid form. She
seems to go in phases. At first, she would run away from me when she saw me
coming and knew it was time. However, after a little running, she'd jump up
on the couch or bed and let me give her the medicine. Then, for several
months, she didn't even run. She'd just wait where she was until I gave it
to her. Now she's gone back to running, and seems a little more serious.
She'll get under something it's hard to reach under, and a couple of times
she tried to go outside. Now I block the cat door before I prepare the
medicine.
It's true that most cats don't seem to feel needles, although a few do. I
had to give one cat infusions for several weeks, and the only thing about it
that seemed to bother her was being held still. I know people are supposed
to do regular finger pricks to see how much insulin they need. Does your
brother have to do that with his cat? I'd think that might be harder.
Joy
Joy
news:6u2vr3do5uepflcc9...@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:40:08 GMT, while chained to a desk in
> the scriptorium ni...@sysadmininc.com wrote:
>
>> $John Fleming, DTM <nos...@sprynet.com> wrote:
>> $> I have absolutely no intention of *ever* doing the new CL
>> $> manual.
>> $
>> $> It doesn't meet my needs, and doesn't spark any interest.
>> $
>> $Same here, but it was easy enough to do and get out the way and at least
>> $I can say I've done it.
>> $
>> $BTW, I did the last speech for my first CC today. I will still consider
>> $it a CTM. ;)
>> $
>> $I'm also 1 speech into my 3rd CTM/CC, Joy - I'm catching up ;)
>
> I've got a ways to go before I catch up with Joy.
>
> I have the manual for number five (or is it six). Still
> have to do the first speech though.
>
> --
>
> John Fleming, DTM
> Edmonton, Canada
Yabbut, you guys are DTMs. I don't expect to go past ATM-S.
--
Joy Gaylord, ATM-S, CL (old style)
Joy
news:03p495-...@news.sysadmininc.com...
I assume you don't mean injections? <G>
Joy
ni...@sysadmininc.com
> For the time being, at least, my cat's medicine is in liquid form. She
> seems to go in phases. At first, she would run away from me when she saw me
> coming and knew it was time. However, after a little running, she'd jump up
> on the couch or bed and let me give her the medicine. Then, for several
> months, she didn't even run. She'd just wait where she was until I gave it
> to her. Now she's gone back to running, and seems a little more serious.
> She'll get under something it's hard to reach under, and a couple of times
> she tried to go outside. Now I block the cat door before I prepare the
> medicine.
How did my original post about TLI mutate into a thread about cats? I
don't even like cats! lol
Joy
news:o5v495-...@news.sysadmininc.com...
Sorry about that! If you post to newsgroups much, you soon learn about
thread drift.
Joy
John Fleming, DTM
the scriptorium ni...@sysadmininc.com wrote:
> $Joy <toa...@real-me.net> wrote:
> $> For the time being, at least, my cat's medicine is in liquid form. She
> $> seems to go in phases. At first, she would run away from me when she saw me
> $> coming and knew it was time. However, after a little running, she'd jump up
> $> on the couch or bed and let me give her the medicine. Then, for several
> $> months, she didn't even run. She'd just wait where she was until I gave it
> $> to her. Now she's gone back to running, and seems a little more serious.
> $> She'll get under something it's hard to reach under, and a couple of times
> $> she tried to go outside. Now I block the cat door before I prepare the
> $> medicine.
> $
> $How did my original post about TLI mutate into a thread about cats? I
> $don't even like cats! lol
This is Usenet. Threads drift away from the original topic,
and some drift faster than others.
In this particular case, we went from talking about TLI to
talking about educationals to talking about the DCP to
talking about CTM/CCs to talking about speeches to talking
about an idea I have in the pipeline for a speech related to
the cat genome to talking about cats.
In that sense, a thread is no different from a conversation.
--
John Fleming, DTM
Edmonton, Canada
The Doctor
Unless the group is moderated.
--
Member - Liberal International
This is doc...@nl2k.ab.ca Ici doc...@nl2k.ab.ca
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Socrates taught his students that the pursuit of truth can only begin once
they start to question and analyze every belief that they ever held dear. If
a certain belief passes the tests of evidence, deduction, and logic, it
should be kept. If it doesn't, the belief should not only be discarded, but
the thinker must also then question why he was led to believe the erroneous
"The Doctor" <doc...@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca> wrote in message
news:fppt2r$asc$1...@gallifrey.nk.ca...
ni...@sysadmininc.com
> This is Usenet. Threads drift away from the original topic,
> and some drift faster than others.
It was more of a rhetorical question really, I suppose.
Rod Taylor
news:jug395-...@news.sysadmininc.com...
> John Fleming, DTM <nos...@sprynet.com> wrote:
>> I have absolutely no intention of *ever* doing the new CL
>> manual.
>
>> It doesn't meet my needs, and doesn't spark any interest.
>
> Same here, but it was easy enough to do and get out the way and at least
> I can say I've done it.
>
interestfor me, but I saw it as a challenge rather than as a learning
experience. I'm now going through the manual for the second time.
--
Rod Taylor (rodt iafrica - don't forget the @ and the dotcom)
Transformers Toastmasters Club
District 74, Southern Africa